Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALGILAQ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALGILAQ’, particularly characterized by having white flowers with greenish-yellow lips, 1 to 2 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALGILAQ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALGILAQ’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with numerous attractive, large, white flowers with greenish-yellow lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALGILAQ’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in January 2009 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1988’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘6541-01’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, in January 2012. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2014 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europe on Apr. 24, 2017, by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the Inventor. ‘PHALGILAQ’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish ‘PHALGILAQ’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) White flowers with greenish-yellow lips;     -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;     -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and     -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, from 50-week-old plants in January 2019. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds, and foliage of ‘PHALGILAQ’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALGILAQ’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALGILAQ’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALGILAQ’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in January 2019 on flowering plants which were planted in 12-centimeter (diameter) pots. After in-vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12-centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12-centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALGILAQ’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1988’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘6541-01’ (Unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (between RHS 190B and 190C)             colored roots with branching lateral roots having light             green (RHS 152B) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Following asexual             propagation (in-vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24             weeks. After transplantation into 12-cm pots, the plants are             finished after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendant with             raceme inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 57.0 cm to 62.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 25.0 cm to 27.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Moderate. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 9 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 18.0 cm             to 21.0 cm. Width: 6.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base             shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse unequal. Leaf             blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal             position): Between 20 degrees and 30 degrees. Leaf margin:             Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS             146B. Texture (upper surface): Rough. Texture (lower             surface): Smooth. Thickness: 2.2 mm to 2.5 mm. Venation:             Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper surface: RHS             146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 12.         -   Length.—57.0 cm to 62.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—5.1 mm to 5.6 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendant.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of green (RHS 146B) and brown (RHS N200A).         -   Internode length.—4.0 cm to 5.0 cm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 200.0 mm to             270.0 mm. Diameter: 140.0 mm to 160.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12-cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 85.0 mm to 90.0 mm. Diameter: 103.0 mm to             108.0 mm. Depth of lip: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 13 to 20 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.             Width: 19.0 mm to 21.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Light             yellow-green (RHS 145C) with a touch of light purplish-red             (RHS N77A).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length (from             base to tip): 44.0 mm to 46.0 mm. Width: 61.0 mm to 63.0 mm.             Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White             (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic             color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Broad elliptic. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 49.0 mm to             51.0 mm. Width: 36.0 mm to 38.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Light yellow-green (RHS 157A) and             slightly very light purple (RHS 76B).         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 39.0 mm to             41.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Color (when fully             opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145D). Lower surface:             Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Light             yellow-green (between RHS 145C and 145D) and very light             purple (RHS 76B) toward margin.         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 29.0             mm to 31.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS NN155C) with             light greenish-yellow tips (RHS 1C). Pubescence on the lip:             Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Undulated. Length: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 15.0             mm to 17.0 mm. Color: Upper surface: Dark orange stripes             (RHS 175B) at the base; white (RHS NN155C) and light             greenish-yellow (RHS 153C) toward the front. Lower surface:             White (RHS NN155C); yellow (RHS 153D) on one side toward the             front.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 23.0             mm to 25.0 mm. Width: 26.0 mm to 28.0 mm. Color: Upper             surface: Brown stripes (RHS 175A) and greenish-yellow (RHS             151B) at the base. Lower surface: White (RHS NN155C);             greenish-yellow wings; yellow-green middle vein (RHS 151C).         -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm.             Length: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Color:             Yellow (RHS 7A); dotted (RHS 175A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 6.0 mm to             6.3 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 11.0 mm to 13.0 mm. Diameter: 3.0 mm to             3.3 mm. Color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145D) and very light             purple (RHS 76C) toward the flower.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 34.0 mm to 36.0 mm. Diameter: 3.5 mm to             3.8 mm. Color: Slightly dark brown (RHS N199B) at the base;             yellow-green (RHS 145A and 145D); very light purple (RHS             76C) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALGILAQ’ differs from female parent plant ‘01-1988’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALGILAQ’ has moderately elongated leaf bases, whereas ‘01-1988’ has very elongated leaf bases. Additionally, ‘PHALGILAQ’ has smaller flowers, longer whiskers and narrower petals than ‘01-1988’.

‘PHALGILAQ’ differs from male parent plant ‘6541-01’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALGILAQ’ has larger flowers, shorter whiskers and wider petals than ‘6541-01’.

‘PHALGILAQ’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALFOUDI’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,453) and ‘PHALFOWIC’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,245). ‘PHALGILAQ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFOUDI’ in that ‘PHALGILAQ’ has obtuse unequal leaf apexes and peduncles that are a mix of green and brown, whereas ‘PHALFOUDI’ has rounded leaf apexes and peduncles that are green. Additionally, ‘PHALGILAQ’ has longer whiskers than ‘PHALFOUDI’.

‘PHALGILAQ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFOWIC’ in that ‘PHALGILAQ’ has white whiskers with light greenish-yellow tips, whereas ‘PHALFOWIC’ has greenish-yellow whiskers. Additionally, ‘PHALGILAQ’ has larger flowers and longer whiskers than ‘PHALFOWIC’.

‘PHALGILAQ’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFUBNE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,395) in that ‘PHALGILAQ’ has narrower leaves, longer whiskers, and narrower petals than ‘PHALFUBNE’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALGILAQ’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 